Natural Cold and Flu Prevention

     It is cold and flu season. Half the people you know are sick. Everywhere you turn there are advertisements for medicines that will numb some of your cold and flu symptoms so that you can function. But wouldn't it be better to just not get sick in the first place? The flu shot is no solution because you can not immunize yourself against every virus you might encounter, there are too many. So the only way to stay healthy this season is to boost your immune system. I tried many different methods of boosting my immune system while working with 2 and 3 year old kids (who leak and spread germs constantly) and found some very effective herbs, vitamins, and tinctures.
Here are a few of my favorite remedies:

1) Source Naturals makes a product called Wellness Herbal Resistance Liquid. It is a tincture that contains Echinacea, Goldenseal and Yin Chiao Formula among other herbs. Both Echinacea and Goldenseal are very effective by themselves, but combined with the Chinese herbs in the Yin Chiao mixture, it really works! The same company (who did not pay me to write this) makes a tincture for children called Wellness Herbal Kids. It has basically the same active herbs in it but is less potent and made without alcohol but with vegetable glycerin instead so it taste much better. (I have also tried the Source Naturals Wellness Formula tablets or pills and found that they are less effective.) The amazing thing about this tincture is you can take it even after you start feeling sick and it will often kick the sickness before you get it. Most other immune boosters must be taken in advance so that they are in your bloodstream when you encounter a virus, but this tincture formula not only works that way but is also somewhat effect if you take it when you feel the first signs of an illness. (This product should not be used while pregnant or breast feeding.)  

2) Black Elder Berry extract is my new best friend (because I am currently pregnant). I have been using a concentrate made by Sambucus because it was inexpensive and was recommended to me, but I am sure other companies make great extracts as well. This is just the highly concentrated juice of the black elderberry plant mixed with a little vegetable glycerin. It is a great immune booster and is safe to take daily. Again you can find a more diluted formula for children. I drop a 1/8 of a teaspoon (kids don't need much) into my son's juice in the morning and he can't taste the difference. It is also safe to take while breastfeeding or pregnant. It is just a berry so unless you had an allergy to it, it should be safe for anyone.

3) Garlic has amazing flu fighting properties too. It is good for you anytime and is completely safe no matter who you are. Likewise Cheyenne pepper, if you can stomach it, is good at keeping colds away. Turmeric is equally amazing but also very intense. Food can be very powerful if you spice it right.

3) Another thing, safe for just about anyone, is good old vitamin C. I find it most effective if I take a 500 mg tablet once a day with a glass of lemon water. The tablets are good because they are concentrated but pure lemon juice absorbs better and faster. I squeeze an entire lemon into a quart of water. If I feel the first signs of a cold tickling my throat I suck on a lemon and swallow the juice slowly so it attacks whatever is attacking my throat. This is similar (but I find it to be more pleasant) to the method of gargling salt water.

4) Which brings me to my last tip: Drink more water! This should be obvious but most people are dehydrated. Water is good for you in many ways, but it helps maintain a healthy immune system too.

What do you do to boost your immune system already? What has or has not worked for you? I am always looking for more remedies. These are just some good ones I have found so far!

Applesauce Yogurt Muffins

These delicious muffins are moist and sweet but contain fiber from apples and calcium from yogurt! They are hearty, healthy, and yummy! 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white flour
1 1/2 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup flaxseed (or another type of wholesome flour) 
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger (optional, you also can add more such spices if you like)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup plain yogurt
4 Tablespoons melted coconut oil (or butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup quick oats (you can also use rolled oats for more texture)
1/2 cup* raisin (optional)
1/4 cup* cranberries (optional)
1/4 cup* walnuts (optional)

1/4 cup* sunflower seeds (optional)
(*Or you can just pour in then amount you want :-)

In a large mixing bowl mix up all the dry ingredients except for the oats (first 8 on the list). In another bowl mix together the wet ingredients and the oats. Combined the wet and dry ingredients. Mix in raisins, cranberries, and/or walnuts. Do not over mix!
With a large spoon, fill well greased muffin pans 3/4 of the way full.
Bake at 375 F for 18 minutes.

You can also sprinkle the muffins with this topping when they come out of the oven if you desire:

Mix together:
1/2 cup crushed walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
A few dashes of cinnamon (optional)
Sprinkle and spread over hot muffins. Let them cool a little in the pan. Enjoy hot or cool!

How to Cure Pleurisy Naturally

I had pleurisy and phenomena for over nine months. I went to doctors and took many different antibiotics. Modern medicine failed me. None of the doctors could cure me.

However, I have found a cure!

 

You'll need the following:

a heating pad

a clean washcloth

a towel

a bottle of pure Castor Oil

Eucalyptus oil (or a blend of oils that are good for the lungs)

Epsom salt (optional)

Herbal Tea for colds (optional)

 

Spread out the towel and prepare to lay or recline somewhere comfortable for a half an hour or more. (Have anything you might need in reach, water, cough drops, tea…) Turn on the heating pad. Drench the washcloth in Castor Oil. Add a few drops of Eucalyptus Oil too. Warm it with that heating pad. Then place the cloth on your chest over your lungs. Place the heating pad over the cloth. (You may also want to squeeze some Castor Oil directly onto you chest as well.)

 The Castor Oil will be heated by the pad and will absorb into your lungs. Rotate the washcloth and heating pad. You’ll want to lay with the heated oil on all areas of your lungs, front and back. Do this for at least a half hour if not for an hour or for as long as you like. (Don’t apply the oil to your tummy because that can cause diarrhea.) Do not do this if you are pregnant!!! Castor oil can result in premature labor or a miscarriage!

After you have covered your lungs with heated castor oil topically, take a hot bath with Epsom salt and Eucalyptus Oil. Soak in the hot water for a while before you wash all that oil off of your body.

I usually did this at night and drank a cup of tea with expectorant properties. Cherry tree bark and pleurisy root are really good with some peppermint or spearmint. When you wake up in the morning expect to cough deeply and expel large chunks of mucus. This is how you know that it worked! It is important to get the mucus out!  

Repeat this procedure 48 hours or a few days later. If you feel better after doing it two or three times then stop. Repeating this procedure every day or for too long is not recommended because the Castor Oil can cause a bit of diarrhea. If the pleurisy starts flaring up again then repeat this procedure as soon as possible.

Tofu on Salad

My favorite way to eat salad is with a little fried tofu on top!
Just cut tofu into bite size squares.
Fry in a little oil. Coconut oil is amazing! It makes everything taste better!
As the tofu turns brown sprinkle a little soy sauce and nutritional yeast on it.
Fry the tofu until it is medium brown.
Toss it hot on top of your cold salad.
It is simple, yet amazing and healthy too!